Gov. Andrew Cuomo to mayors: If you have a better idea to cut pension costs, let me know

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo took to Albany's radio air waves this morning to defend his proposal to allow cities like Syracuse to finance their pension bills.

The idea has gotten a mixed response across the state, with some embracing the plan and others, like Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, questioning whether the idea could do more harm than good in the long run.

Cuomo didn't mention Miner during his comments on Fred Dicker's "Live from the State Capitol" or WCNY's "The Capitol Pressroom."

“If a mayor doesn’t want to do it, don’t do it," Cuomo said. "It’s an option.”

But Cuomo did praise Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards, who told state lawmakers on Monday that the state must help cities and other local governments figure out ways to stop relying on dwindling property tax revenues to pay for services. That's an idea that Miner, too, supports.

Miner's drawn attention for her open criticism of the pension plan, which Cuomo proposed as part of his $142.6 billion state budget. The 25-year financing plan would allow municipalities to defer some of their pension costs now and make up the difference decades from now. Cuomo says the plan would save Syracuse $12 million in the first year.

Miner has not rejected the plan, but says she's needs more information before pledging higher payments to the state so far into the future.

"I would love to embrace this program and take a $12 million liability off my books," she said today.

Today, Cuomo called it his best offer to help struggling cities pay the pension bills, which have grown exponentially in recent years. Syracuse's bill grew from $2.4 million in 2000 to $32.5 million this year because of benefits-sweeteners added by the state and the 2008 market downturn.

“The financing plan is my best idea for an option to deal with it," Cuomo said. "If the comptroller has a better option, I’d love to hear it.”